Edgar Allan Poe House to Open for Visitors Commemorating His 205th Birthday

Baltimore, MD — The Board of Directors of Poe Baltimore, Inc. announced today that the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum will be open to the public free of charge on Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19, from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to commemorate the 205th birthday of the iconic mystery writer.

The historic home and national landmark, located at 203 North Amity St, will open its doors to visitors for the first time to celebrate Poe’s birthday in many years. The museum is usually closed during the winter months. The self-guided tour of house includes exhibits on Poe’s foster parents, his life and death in Baltimore, and poems and short stories written in Baltimore. It also features significant artifacts including Poe’s chair, lap desk and telescope.

Dramatic readings of his works will take place periodically in the house each day. The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore is one of the best preserved of the three existing domiciles where Poe lived (Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore), retaining much of its original woodwork, floors, plaster walls and hardware. Poe lived in the house from 1833 to 1835.

Admission for this special opening is free, but donations at the door are encouraged to help sustain the mission of Poe Baltimore, Inc. Poe Baltimore, Inc., a non-profit corporation, is charged with promoting and interpreting Edgar Allan Poe’s life, death and legacy in Baltimore.

Poe, author, poet, editor, and literary critic, is considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, he was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

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3 Responses to Edgar Allan Poe House to Open for Visitors Commemorating His 205th Birthday

Thank you so much for opening the doors to the Poe House on Jan.18 & 19 in commemoration of his 205th birthday ! I had wanted to visit the house that weekend but saw that it was closed for the winter. I just saw the announcement that now it WILL be open just for that weekend so I am thrilled ! Will be traveling from central Pennsylvania on Jan.19 to be there to celebrate Poe’s birthday- thanks again !!!